Hi Friends,

Just a doubt which I would like to share with you and ask for guidance to understand better about the carrying capacity and encumbrance variant (PHB pg 176).

I am building a human fighter character who has 16 STRENGHT.  His carrying capacity is Strenght score X 15, which gives me 240LB (16X15).

1)  That means he can load as many weapons + shield + all "gadgets" up to 240LB without any problem such as getting an exhaustion penalty, is that right?

After that 240LB, will the character be encumbered and his speed drops by 10ft (as well as his performance in combat?)

I am not willing to bring all his gadgets to a combat, like his explorer's kit for instance.  Most of the adventures start when the characters are located in an Inn.  Part of the equipment can be left in the room and effectively, the character carries his weapons, armor and maybe rations of food, healer's kit, and a few items which will not affect his performance.  The total weight will be much less than the carrying capacity.

Considering if the character carries a lot of items, when he reaches 241 LB he will be encumbered and his speed will decrease, like from 30 ft to 20 ft, and maybe his performance in battle.

2) His Push/Drag/Lift capacity is 30X STR (16 X 30) = 480LB.  When he reaches that his speed drops to 5ft.  What about between 240LB and 480LB, how that affects his speed and performance?

So, the sequence for carrying items would be:

• Carrying capacity (safe range) without affecting his speed or performance = 240LB (16 X 15)
• Encumbered (starting "damages"), speed decreases = 241 LB - 480LB
• Heavily encumbered (he can't do much than pushing/dragging/lifting) = 480 LB.  His speed is 5ft and more than that he doesn't move

However, encumbrance is a variant used instead of carrying weight (that "sucks" because of a character, such as a fighter, easily reaches 5 X his Strenght score). the DM chooses what he wants?  

The DM chooses what he wants? 

Could anybody provide me some better enlightenment on this topic?

Thanks a lot for your attention.

Sincerely,

Drakortex.

All in all it depends on whether the DM is using no encumbrance, the base encumbrance or the variant encumbrance. 
What you are initially describing, that is Str x 15, is the base encumbrance rule. Meaning that is as much as you can carry consistently where as the lift/drag/push capacity is more for a shorter span of time. By the base rules, if you go over your carrying capacity whilst remaining below your push/drag/lift limit, your speed will drop to flat 5. 

Encumbered/Heavily Encumbered are only taken into account if your DM has decided to use the Variant Encumbrance rules. In which case you become encumbered if you pass Str x 5 weight, reducing your speed by 10 feet. 
And heavily encumbered if you pass Str x 10 weight, reducing your speed by 20 feet and giving disadvantage on all ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws made with Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution. Similar to the base rule, you have your max capacity of Str x 15, which if you pass your speed just flat drops to 5 in addition to the disadvantages listed above. 

So to return to the start, in the end it comes down to which rule the DM and your group has decided to use at the table. Both have their pros and cons depending on what level of realism you strive for, but I can definitely agree that the variant rule is a tad punishing towards anyone wanting to wear armour. I'll list the two types below for easier referencing. 

Regular: 
Carrying Capacity (Str x 15 ) - Above reduces speed to 5, no disadvantages
Push/Drag/Lift (Str x 30) - Can't go above it.

Variant:
Encumbered (Str x 5) - Speed reduced by 10.
Heavily Encumbered (Str x 10) Speed reduced by 20. Disadvantage on all saving throws, ability checks, and attack throws using Con, Dex or Str.
Carrying Capacity (Str x 15) Speed reduced to flat 5, disadvantages still apply. 

Using your fighter as an example. If the DM is using the base rules your speed will go down to flat 5 as soon as you pass 240 lbs in weight. Whereas with the variant rules your benchmarks will be at 80 for Encumbered, 160 for Heavily Encumbered, and 240 for Carrying Capacity. Meaning that as soon as you pass the 160 benchmarks your efficiency in combat will start to suffer greatly. 

Hi Garodin,

Thanks for the detailed reply.  I really appreciated it.

I am currently playing a campaign as a War Cleric, who recently got an plate armor, which increased my AC to 20. However also increased the weight I am carrying.

I thought that would be OK because the carrying capacity rule until last session when  I was "penalized" in my speed, during the combat, by the encumbrance.

My Strength is 17, but adding my regular cleric weapons, water skin, food rations, healer's kit and a component pouch (which I acquired some time ago to carry some other small items), I am over the 85LB.

I never had this problem before, I was surprised by getting my speed reduced during the combat.

I was thinking and comparing my situation to the other players who are heavily armoured and "weaponized" but don't have problems with encumbrance ....and making some math, I got confused.

I will Talk to the DM to "understand" better the rules that he applies concerning to the encumbrance.

Maybe it was my misunderstanding of the rules that got me out of guard and I didn't pay attention when he "changed" the rules effectively.

Thanks again for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Drakortex.